Make an impact on the lives of children and families

Insider insight into working for Action for Children and top tips to boost your job application
 
Action for Children is dedicated to improving the lives of children, young people and families. The charity is currently recruiting for a variety of positions across the UK, including a director of fundraising to lead the charity’s fundraising strategy and build sustainable growth.
 
With partnerships such as House of Fraser and national events like Byte Night, Action for Children offers some great career opportunities along with the chance to make a difference. We spoke to Sharon Bridge, head of resourcing and talent at Action for Children, to find out more about why it’s such a rewarding place to work.

Sharon Bridge, head of resourcing and talent, Action for Children

Tell us about Action for Children and the work you do

Action for Children helps disadvantaged children across the UK, from before they are born until they are into their twenties. We help them through fostering or adoption, and by intervening early to stop neglect and abuse. We make life better for disabled children. We influence government policy and we advocate for change. Our 7,000 staff and volunteers operate over 600 services, improving the lives of 390,000 children, young people and families every year. We succeed by doing what's right, doing what's needed, and doing what works for children.

What roles are you currently recruiting for and what do they involve?

We are recruiting for a variety of positions across the UK, from our valuable children’s services assistants through to a senior corporate fundraiser. One of our exciting opportunities includes a director of fundraising whose role will be to develop and direct a fundraising strategy that builds broad and sustained support for our work with children and young people.

What kind of people are you looking for?

As our work is with children and every role has a link to our work it’s really important that our employees share our ambition to do what’s right, what’s needed and what works for children.  Some of our roles require specific childcare qualifications but for many we offer these qualifications as part of our training. Every job where this is possible has it detailed on the job advert. For the director of fundraising role we’re looking for a proven leader with excellent interpersonal skills - you need to be able to inspire and engage people at all levels.

Why would someone want to work for Action for Children?

The work we do makes a huge impact on the families we help. This makes our work challenging and rewarding. I joined over 11 years ago because I really wanted to feel that my working life was making a difference to children and young people who don’t have the support that my own children do, and Action for Children affords me that opportunity.

We have great team working and excellent opportunities to develop. We offer a competitive, flexible benefits package including up to 29 days holiday, a competitive pension contribution scheme, flexible maternity, adoption and paternity packages and more.  We are committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity and working inclusively, we uphold the principles in our behaviour and working practices – as an employer, as a service provider and as a campaigning organisation.

What exciting projects are you working on?

We are always working on fundraising initiatives like our annual Giant Wiggle, which works with nursery aged children in schools to support their education, and Byte Night, the UK’s largest sleep out that raises money to help tackle the causes of youth homelessness. We are always campaigning tirelessly for the rights of children and young people.

What opportunities for training and development are there?

We are committed to developing our staff. Wherever possible, we offer support in gaining specific childcare qualifications or other relevant professional development. We also offer well-developed in-house learning opportunities and support our employees to stay within the organisation by offering pathways to internal moves. We have many employees who have been with us for over 10 years and this is down to our culture, training and development opportunities.

What tips would you offer applicants?

It’s really important that you match your skills and experience closely to the job description and person specification in your application form. By doing this your application will stand the best chance of meeting the shortlisting criteria.

Sum up what it’s like to work for Action for Children

We are a fast paced organisation, which results in lots of interesting projects to get involved in. We work hard because we know that the effort we put in makes a huge difference to the children and families we support. Action for Children is a supportive and collaborative environment where we won’t rest until any child who needs help, gets help.
 

Browse and apply for the latest fundraising jobs